diff --git a/requests/models.py b/requests/models.py
index b4118b93..0647814f 100644
--- a/requests/models.py
+++ b/requests/models.py
@@ -210,6 +210,8 @@ class Request(object):
             while (('location' in r.headers) and
                    ((r.status_code is codes.see_other) or (self.allow_redirects))):
 
+                r.content  # Consume socket so it can be released
+
                 if not len(history) < self.config.get('max_redirects'):
                     raise TooManyRedirects()